Rise of the comic Kazakh who used to be Albanian

Published on 20/10/2006 01:23

BORAT from Kazakhstan first took shape as Kristo from Albania, it is said. In 1994, Channel 4 launched a hunt for new presenters as a replacement for its series The Word. Sacha Baron Cohen submitted a tape of himself as Kristo.

In 2000, in Da Ali G Show, Kristo re-emerged as Borat, the naive, racist, reporter from Kazakhstan.

Borat, "born" in 1979, is a comic creation who has taken on a life of his own, particularly in the US. While Ali G struggled to make inroads there, Borat's fans are said to include Dustin Hoffman and Russell Crowe.

Baron Cohen typically responds to questions on Borat and Kazakhstan in character. There was no immediate response to yesterday's invitation.

A year ago the Kazakhstan government threatened legal action against the Jewish comedian, particularly for Borat's song, Throw the Jew down the well.

"Borat" responded: "I have no connection with Mr Cohen and fully support my government's decision to sue this Jew."